Self-contained, high efficiency cellulose biomass processing plant

Abstract

A self-contained, high efficiency cellulose biomass processing plant includes sources of quantum-based wave energy to facilitate the dilute acid hydrolysis of hemi-cellulose and alpha-cellulose bond. The sources of quantum-based wave energy supply one or more of, and suitably a combination of ultrasonic waves, ultraviolet waves, magnetic waves and direct current to facilitate fracture of the intermolecular bonds. An integrated plant is also provided which combines the cellulose biomass processing plant with apparatus for converting high protein residue into a finished high grade protein product. Due to the high efficiency resulting from use of quantum-based wave energy, the plant uses less energy, and can be small and portable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cellulose biomass processing plant, comprising:
 a first stage including a first reactor, a source of heat for the first reactor, and one or more first stage sources of energy in communication with the first reactor;   a second stage including a second reactor, a source of heat for the second reactor, and one or more second stage sources of energy in communication with the second reactor;   wherein the first stage receives cellulose biomass feed and an acid solution which causes hydrolysis of cellulose of the cellulosic biomass feed, and the second stage receives unhydrolized cellulose from the first stage and an acid solution and causes further hydrolysis of the unhydrolized cellulose from the first stage.   
     
     
         2 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the one or more first stage sources of energy being configured so as to enhance yield for the hydrolysis of cellulose of the cellulosic biomass feed and wherein the one or more second stage sources of energy being configured so as to enhance yield for the hydrolysis of the unhydrolized cellulose from the first stage such that the cellulose biomass processing plant achieves more than about 80 percent hydrolysis of the cellulose. 
     
     
         3 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the first reactor is a continuous flowing reactor and the second reactor is a continuous flowing reactor. 
     
     
         4 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first stage sources of energy is selected from the group consisting of sources of photonic energy, ultrasonic energy, ultraviolet energy, magnetic energy, direct current, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second stage sources of energy is selected from the group consisting of sources of photonic energy, ultrasonic energy, ultraviolet energy, magnetic energy, direct current, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 1 , further comprising apparatus for receiving high protein residue from the second stage and converting it into a high grade protein product. 
     
     
         7 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus for receiving and converting the high protein residue comprises a compression apparatus, a shaping apparatus, a drying apparatus and a granulation apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 1 , further comprising a platform with wheels for transporting the plant. 
     
     
         9 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the cellulose is selected from the set consisting of wood, corn, wheat, barley, soybeans, grasses, and recycled cellulose products. 
     
     
         10 . A process for treating cellulose biomass feedstock comprising the steps of:
 combining the cellulose biomass feedstock with an acid solution to form a slurry;   heating the slurry;   passing the slurry through a reactor;   supplying the reactor with one or more sources of energy to facilitate hydrolysis of hemi-cellulose and alpha-cellulose and form a product slurry; and   separating solid and liquid components of the product slurry.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the reactor comprises a first stage and a second stage, and one or more sources of energy are supplied to each of the stages of the reactor. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein each of the one or more sources of energy are selected from a set consisting of sources of photonic energy, ultrasonic energy, ultraviolet energy, magnetic energy, direct current, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the one or more sources of energy are supplied at a plurality of locations in the first stage of the reactor and a plurality of locations in the second stage of the reactor. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the product slurry is separated into a liquid stream and a high protein residue, further comprising the steps of compressing, shaping, drying and granulating the high protein residue to form a high grade protein product. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 10  wherein the cellulose is selected from the set consisting of wood, corn, wheat, barley, soybeans, grasses, and recycled cellulose products. 
     
     
         16 . A cellulose biomass processing plant, comprising:
 a first stage including a first reactor, a source of heat for the first reactor, one or more first stage sources of energy in communication with the first stage reactor, a flash tank in communication with the first stage reactor, and a separator in communication with the flash tank;   wherein the one or more first stage sources of energy are provided in communication with a plurality of locations in the first stage reactor;   a second stage including a second reactor, a source of heat for the second reactor, one or more second stage sources of energy in communication with the second stage reactor, a flash tank in communication with the second stage reactor and a separator in communication with the flash tank;   wherein the one or more second stage sources of energy are provided in communication with a plurality of locations in the second stage reactor.   
     
     
         17 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sources of energy are supplied at a plurality of locations in the first stage of the reactor and a plurality of locations in the second stage of the reactor consisting of sources of photonic energy, ultrasonic energy, ultraviolet energy, magnetic energy, direct current, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The cellulose biomass processing plant of  claim 16  wherein the cellulose biomass processing plant is configured to achieve more than about 80 percent hydrolysis of cellulose.